Mental Health Awareness Week, taking place from 12 to 18 May 2025, is an opportunity for organisations across the UK to come together and reflect on how we can better support mental wellbeing. This year’s theme, set by the Mental Health Foundation, is ‘Community’ – recognising the vital role that connection, belonging, and support play in helping people thrive.

In the rail industry, building a positive working community means not only supporting one another emotionally, but also addressing the everyday pressures that impact mental health. One of those pressures – often overlooked – is fatigue. 

The Link Between Fatigue and Mental Health 

Fatigue isn’t just physical tiredness. It builds up over time, affecting concentration, mood, sleep, and overall wellbeing. In rail, where shift work and long hours are common, fatigue can lead to: 

• Increased stress and mental strain
• Disrupted sleep patterns 
• Higher risk of anxiety, burnout, and low morale 
• Difficulty  staying connected to colleagues and the wider team 

When fatigue isn’t properly managed, it not only affects safety and performance – it can also isolate people and wear down the sense of community that’s so important for mental health. 

How Signal Software Can Help 

Signal Software is designed to help rail organisations manage fatigue in a way that supports both safety and wellbeing. By providing tools to monitor and reduce fatigue, we aim to make day-to-day working life more manageable for teams across the network. 

Fatigue risk monitoring 

Our platform uses predictive models to assess fatigue based on working hours, shift patterns and rest periods. This helps highlight individuals who may be at risk, so action can be taken early. 

Smarter shift planning 

Signal makes it easier to plan shifts that avoid quick turnarounds and excessive working hours, giving staff more time to rest and recover – a key factor in supporting mental wellbeing. 

Increased transparency 

By giving workers visibility into their own fatigue levels, we help encourage conversations around wellbeing and create a more open, supportive culture. 

Reducing last-minute changes 

Better forecasting and scheduling means fewer short-notice shift changes – helping reduce stress and disruption for teams. 

Looking After People as Well as Performance 

Supporting mental health in the rail industry isn’t just about awareness campaigns – it’s about building systems that make work safer and more sustainable. By managing fatigue more effectively, rail operators can create working environments where people feel supported, respected, and part of a stronger team. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re encouraging all organisations in the sector to consider the role fatigue plays in wellbeing – and to explore how practical tools like Signal Software can help make a difference. 

Learn more about Signal Software or Book a demo to see Signal in action.